When did you stop being 'strict' with germs

[emetophobe12]

At what point did you stop being strict with things that go into your baby's mouth?
I have teething toys for him which he loves but I feel like I'm forever sterilising them. I obviously want to help build his immune system but also know that some illnesses can make them really poorly which is why I've been careful with everything so far.
He's 17 weeks

9 months when we were on holiday. I saw DS putting handfuls of sand in his mouth and I thought ‘WTF am I still sterilising for’.

Once they were crawling - hands all over the floor and straight into their mouths made most things pointless. I don't think I sterilised teethers etc, just gave than a good wash every so often.

I don't think I ever was. I used to clean and sterilise bottles but dc 1 sucked his fingers instead of a dummy which of course I couldn't sterilise so I thought it must be fine not to keep everything else mega clean.

I was never that bothered tbh. I took the view that very little was as mucky as his hands and he had them in his mouth constantly. He’s 8 months old and has never been ill, but that’s maybe just luck.

4 months ish, but I was never really really strict.

I'm not sure I've ever sterilised a toy, except for occasionally chew teethers.

I sterilised bottles and dummies until 12 months but I never sterilised toys.

I didn't bottle feed so wasn't in the habit of sterilising anything - she's still alive!

I’ve never been that strict about toys really. Washed when I remember or it looks like it needs it. Sterilised teeters occasionally. I do sterilise bottles and dummies. Definitely not worth worrying about toys etc once they are crawling.

Thanks all.
Yeah they're not toys.. I used the wrong word there. They're teethers so like the silicone texture type things. I can't think of the correct terminology right now.. baby brain for ya 🙄

Don't think I ever sterilised anything, my DS is 20 now, has rarely ever been ill. I think there is some belief that you need exposure to germs to build up immunity (that's my view and reason for not being houseproud or neurotic about cleaning ).

I can't remember the exact age but it was when I turned around from washing her plate in boiling water and found her crawling around licking the doormat. 🙈

Seemed pointless once she was crawling (7 months).

I never sterilised anything but dummies and bottles

I never cleaned toys or teethers unless they have sick or poo on them.

I stopped being strict when weaning started, so six months. I still sterilise bottles but only because I have a thing about milk residue sticking on tests and going off - I doubt it's really necessary.

Plates, spoons etc. go in the dishwasher, and I don't worry about toys she puts in her mouth.

With my first, I sterilised teethers & dummies until 9 months .. with my second, literally never 😂 drops her dummy on the floor, oh well, 5 second rule 🙈

I've never sterilised a thing in my life. I didn't bottle feed though which helps.

Mine used to touch the dog as she passed by at that age and then put their fingers straight in their mouths and play with my keys. They’ve never had a proper tummy bug so must have robust immune systems.

Yeah I never sterilised toys or teethers either. I’m guessing your username means you’ll have some particular concerns about germs though?

We never did. We didn’t bottle feed and didn’t own a steriliser. Definitely lax here!
We washed hands and obviously practice normal hygiene but were only bothered about dangerous things in mouth, not clean as such.

Never did really. Ran a boiling kettle over a couple of dummies a few times

Never sterilised toys and have never really been overtly worried about germs with my kids.

Anything that touches formula needs to be sterilised but toys and tethers can just be given a wash in hot soapy water, like your dishes do

I didn't have bottles to sterilise so I just washed teething toys in soapy water.